During the winter, Reelfoot Lake is home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles outside of Alaska.(Photo11: Courtesy of Reelfoot Lake Tourism Council)

Free children's opera performances

Nashville Opera is presenting several free performances of its new bilingual children’s opera, "Bear Hug/Abrazo de Oso," including a 2 p.m. Saturday sensory-friendly show for children with learning differences and sensory processing challenges. The sensory-friendly performance takes place at the Noah Liff Opera Center, 3622 Redmon St.

"Bear Hug" is the story of four bears — all from different countries with different appearances and languages — who discover that they are more alike than different.

The other free performance dates are: 10 and 11:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at Wiliamson County Library; 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Donelson Branch Library; 10 a.m. March 2 at the Country Music Hall of Fame; 2 p.m. March 2 at Belle Meade Plantation; 10:30 a.m. March 9 at Edmondson Pike library branch; and 2 p.m. March 9 at Casa Azafran.

There is also a performance at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 23 at the Nashville Zoo (free with zoo admission), which coincides with the zoo's Teddy Bear Clinic, where children can bring their favorite stuffed animal for the vet team to perform routine checkups.

Puppet shows

The February Wishing Chair Productions puppet shows at the Main Library are "Anansi the Spider," based on an African tale of a tricky spider who uses cleverness to achieve his wishes. The performances take place at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16.

The Library's Puppet Truck will take its "Ellingtown" musical production to many branches in February. The play, produced by the Nashville Jazz Workshop in cooperation with Wishing Chair, uses all sorts of puppets to bring jazz master Duke Ellington to life. Adults enjoy this one just as much as the children do.

York and Friends art sale

York & Friends Fine Art will have it's annual Super Bowl Red Tag Art Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Gallery owner Ron York started this sale 25 years ago, and will offer selected works from 25 artists at 20-60 percent off. There will also be a discount framing on sale purchases from Gary Tisdale.

Schmidt vocal competition

This prestigious competition for high school singers will take place at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music on Saturday. The one-day competition, which presents cash awards and scholarships to more than 150 people annually, takes place in 16 locations around the country. Competitors perform in front of a live audience in two rounds. The competition, funded by the William E. Schmidt Foundation, is free and open to the public, with the first round at 9 a.m. and a final round around 3:30 p.m.

Belmont Commercial Music Showcase

Mephisto sale

The Mephisto Outlet, 305 Seaboard Lane in the Cool Springs area, will be offering an additional 10 percent off the entire store Feb. 4-16. This Valentine sale is on top of their deals on discontinued styles and factory second shoes for men and women.

Kidsville at the Parthenon

Kidsville at the Parthenon is always a great way for families to experience the Parthenon. The free 11-11:45 a.m. Saturday program is geared to children ages 12 and younger, combining a story time with arts and crafts, music and history. This week, the featured book is "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Pena, with the art activity will be to create a bus with riders like the one in the story. Admission and all materials are free. No registration is required.

Zoo admission price going up

Most Nashville Zoo admission prices are increasing Friday.

Zoo officials have changed daily admission structure. On Monday-Thursday, adults will pay $17, $18 on Friday and Sunday and $19 on Saturday. The child price is $12 Monday-Thursday, $13 on Friday and Sunday and $14 on Saturday. The senior price is $15 Monday-Thursday, $16 on Friday and Sunday and $17 on Saturday.

The cost of zoo memberships will go up on March 1, with a household membership going from $140 to $145, while a single membership goes from $65 to $70, and a duel membership goes up from $100 to $105. The unlimited ride pass increases from $55 to $59.

Aquarist keeper Tori Johnson has trained the fish and stingrays on target training for feedings. Zoo guests can see these feedings at this exhibit during Keeper Talks. Ayrika L Whitney/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”